Im so excited!

daizylindsay

daizylindsay

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Anna
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As the title really! I have won a canon 400d on eBay, don't shout at me for not going out testing cameras, I got it for a great deal. It just has the kit lens so I think I will practise until I decide what other lens I need. I am SO excited I could pop!!!
 
Well done! I love the 400D. I still carry one as back-up. Five years old now and has had a pretty hard life, must be up around 100,000 shots, nary a problem. I've have had some outstanding results from it.
 
Well done on winning the 400D. This was the first DSLR I got when they first came out and it was the camera I learned my trade on. Don't worry about using the kit lens for a while as it will produce some good images. Just get out and enjoy using it and learn, learn learn.

Ian
 
Thank you all! I just need a memory card and I'm good to go. It should be with me on thurs I can't wait!
 
I passed my 400d on to my wife, often wish I had'nt. It's a great camera. Enjoy
 
How much did you grab it for, if you don't mind my asking ?

I can imagine your excitement, I got my mum to call my school saying she needed me home when she told me my S200EXR Had come .. I did not have the patience to wait another 2-3 hours knowing my new camera was sitting at home !!!

I can't imagine what I'm going to be like when I'm finally ordering my new DSLR .. Have to wait to like the end of this year though :( joint b day and christmas prezzie as it's pretty expensive
 
That's the sort of thing I would have done! (mum calling me at school) I can't wait! I'm working late tomorrow as well so I'll be itching to get home and play! Although the memory card won't be here til Friday so I will just have to gaze at it!

Its cost me £230 with a bag, 2 batteries and all leads. The sandisk card has cost me £30 for a 4g extreme iii cf. The camera just comes with the kit lens which isn't an IS one so I think I will be itching for a 70-300mm soon so I can do a bit of macro and a bit of longer range stuff.

I don't really understand about lenses yet so I will be asking lots of questions!
 
daizylindsay said:
That's the sort of thing I would have done! (mum calling me at school) I can't wait! I'm working late tomorrow as well so I'll be itching to get home and play! Although the memory card won't be here til Friday so I will just have to gaze at it!

Its cost me £230 with a bag, 2 batteries and all leads. The sandisk card has cost me £30 for a 4g extreme iii cf. The camera just comes with the kit lens which isn't an IS one so I think I will be itching for a 70-300mm soon so I can do a bit of macro and a bit of longer range stuff.

I don't really understand about lenses yet so I will be asking lots of questions!
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It's a shame about the lens not having IS .. maybe you should have looked for a body only and bought a second hand lens seperately, maybe you wouldn't have got all those spares though. ups and downs to everything.

Oh well hope you enjoy the camera, and as for only being able to stare at it, is there no internal memory at all ? allowing you take atleast 5 pics or something ?
 
Kit lenses are generally excellent these days. Perfectly capable of giving good results. Worry about top-end gear when you've learned how to use the camera!
 
BrandonDouglas said:
ofcourse, but a bit of IS always helps :)

I guess you only need to worry about that with telephoto lenses though
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with such a small focal range who needs IS, just learn to hold the camera properly and there will be no trouble getting sharp shots, yes with zooms, telephoto and long primes IS does help :thumbs:
 
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Thanks all that's reassuring, I don't want to spend money on stuff I know nothing about. I could get a cheap tripod if I'm finding hand held a problem with this lens.

You guys know you'd stuff so I'm going to take the advice and just take some photos, learn, take more photos, learn more!

Not sure about the internal memory Brandon, it's not a problem to wait. Over the past week I must of bid on/watched hundreds of cameras so I'm happy with my deal *fingers crossed*

:-)
 
daizylindsay said:
Thanks all that's reassuring, I don't want to spend money on stuff I know nothing about. I could get a cheap tripod if I'm finding hand held a problem with this lens.

You guys know you'd stuff so I'm going to take the advice and just take some photos, learn, take more photos, learn more!

Not sure about the internal memory Brandon, it's not a problem to wait. Over the past week I must of bid on/watched hundreds of cameras so I'm happy with my deal *fingers crossed*

:-)
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Im sure youll find that you can take a couple of pictures to test it out before you get your card :)
 
Ho to hold your new DSLR, some times I do use a tripod for landscapes all types and always for night photography, so first thing on your list after a tripod should be a cable release

[YOUTUBE]y9I6ludphwU[/YOUTUBE]

Dave
 
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Just Dave said:
Just tried it out it will let you take a shot but then tells you no CF card, so no you cant take shots without a card
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:plusone:

It'll let you take test shots but won't save them.

The 18-55 IS is a great little upgrade and can be snapped up at fairly decent prices in the classifieds, the 70-300 is what I'm after next (or 70-200 if I ever save enough pennies :bonk:).
 
BrandonDouglas said:
fair do's, i just assumed as most cameras do have somewhat of an internal memory.
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All do have an internal memory but not for saving the image it's just for transferring the image to the card to cover the time between capture and being saved on the card :P

To the OP I am sure you will enjoy it and get some brilliant results.

Edit: All digital before someone calls me out on my sweeping statement :lol:
 
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MWHCVT said:
All do have an internal memory but not for saving the image it's just for transferring the image to the card to cover the time between capture and being saved on the card :P

To the OP I am sure you will enjoy it and get some brilliant results.

Edit: All digital before someone calls me out on my sweeping statement :lol:
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On my bridge camera (S200EXR) It saves it and you are able to view them in camera etc.

but now I know :)
 
Just Dave said:
Just tried it out it will let you take a shot but then tells you no CF card, so no you cant take shots without a card
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In the menu there's a `shoot without card` option. I would leave this OFF in normal use, but turning it on will allow you to practice.

Practice setting shutter, aperture and ISO settings, play with the focus points - and memorize the manual :)
 
My wife won a 1000D on e-bay earlier this year, and it was a great purchase. Very good condition.

She is just starting to learn with, but loves it. It does have the IS lens though. Worth doing a shutter count (hers had about 10000clicks) and check the firmware as that might need updating.

I'm sure you will have many happy times together.
 
Just Dave said:
Ho to hold your new DSLR, some times I do use a tripod for landscapes all types and always for night photography, so first thing on your list after a tripod should be a cable release

[YOUTUBE]y9I6ludphwU[/YOUTUBE]

Dave
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Thanks for that, it is really useful! :clap::clap:

Thanks everyone else too, I will try it in test shot mode until the card arrives, no rush! Ive waited years to get one, just never had the time to research them properly.

TP is really helping me though, just looking at others photos and reading up in various things has turned me into somewhat of a camera snob! I will def have lens envy very soon no doubt! :p

My friend posted some wedding pics on facebook and I found myself critiqing(sp.) them :thumbs:

I'm off the the library next week to get some books!:rules:
 
Just Dave said:
Ho to hold your new DSLR, some times I do use a tripod for landscapes all types and always for night photography, so first thing on your list after a tripod should be a cable release

[YOUTUBE]y9I6ludphwU[/YOUTUBE]

Dave

Thanks for that, it is really useful!

Thanks everyone else too, I will try it in test shot mode until the card arrives, no rush! Ive waited years to get one, just never had the time to research them properly.

TP is really helping me though, just looking at others photos and reading up in various things has turned me into somewhat of a camera snob! I will def have lens envy very soon no doubt!

My friend posted some wedding pics on facebook and I found myself critiqing(sp.) them

I'm off the the library next week to get some books!
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Bloke in the vid calles himself a photographer? Didn't even have the strap around his wrist. Dreadful. There could be children watching this y'know :shake:
 
The 400D was my entry into the DSLR World back in 2007.

I moved on to a 7D in January but still have my 400D as back up, in fact I'll be using it while I'm on holiday next week :)

Hope you get as much out of your 400D as I did (and do) out of mine.
 
Don't get hung up on the IS/VR issue. For certain shots it can cause more problems. It was only a few years when we all had to cope with only manual focus, no IS and a roll of film that meant you couldn't check the results until the film was developed. Those of us who remember those days managed to cope and still get the shot. A good eye and technique is always something worthwhile to develop.
 
jon ryan said:
Bloke in the vid calles himself a photographer? Didn't even have the strap around his wrist. Dreadful. There could be children watching this y'know :shake:
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Urm he doesn't need the strap around his wrist to be a photographer, :razz: :thinking:

But true its always better to have it round your neck, or wrapped round your wrist for safety sake, and I would recommend always doing so, :thumbs: and he should have said that in the video, but hey ho he didnt

Anna there is no test mode if you take shots without a card it has nowhere to write it to so you cant view it
 
Russ77 said:
The 400D was my entry into the DSLR World back in 2007.

I moved on to a 7D in January but still have my 400D as back up, in fact I'll be using it while I'm on holiday next week :)

Thats good to know, the girl I am buying it off said it hasn't been used much so hopefully it will last me a bit! :)

Hope you get as much out of your 400D as I did (and do) out of mine.
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Thanks so do I! :clap:

jon ryan said:
Bloke in the vid calles himself a photographer? Didn't even have the strap around his wrist. Dreadful. There could be children watching this y'know :shake:
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Just Dave said:
Urm he doesn't need the strap around his wrist to be a photographer, :razz: :thinking:

But true its always better to have it round your neck, or wrapped round your wrist for safety sake, and I would recommend always doing so, :thumbs: and he should have said that in the video, but hey ho he didnt

OK good tip! I'm bound to drop it otherwise!:thumbsdown:

Anna there is no test mode if you take shots without a card it has nowhere to write it to so you cant view it
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Oh ok, not to worry I will just practise hold, settings etc!



PsiFox said:
Don't get hung up on the IS/VR issue. For certain shots it can cause more problems. It was only a few years when we all had to cope with only manual focus, no IS and a roll of film that meant you couldn't check the results until the film was developed. Those of us who remember those days managed to cope and still get the shot. A good eye and technique is always something worthwhile to develop.
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OK good, that will save me money for a bit then! :lol:
 
My advice would be to put it on AV mode as soon as possible and dont rely on Auto!

My friend recently got into photography and I made her promise never to use it on Auto mode.... 3 months in now and she's gone from AV to M! Which is another big step IMO - but I fear if she'd started on Auto she'd still be struggling..

AV might be confusing at first (until you understand what you are trying to achieve) but once it clicks (no pun intended ;)) you'll be well on your way to making great photos! Auto is the devils mode!
 
As has been said you done actually need image stabilisation I regularly shoot with it switched off, actually with my sports stuff I normally turn it off as I try and work on a minimum of 1/1000's of a second so the image should be nice and sharp at these speeds in any case
 
I started out with a 400D aswell, lovely little camera and a great way to learn. I have the kit lens without IS and it is a cracking lens, Ok I am in the prosess of upgrading it but thats just the snob in me lol.

Have fun and just keep taking pics, look at your settings and learn what they all do if you tweek them the wrong way. Most importantly though enjoy it.
Look forward to seeing some of your pics that you take.

spike
 
Why is auto so bad? I will try as you say AV then manual, I am more interested in that really, but say for example I took it to a party or something and just wanted general snaps, would auto not be ok then?

I have to say the best pics Ive had on my compact have been when I've tinkered with the settings!
 
SpikeK6 said:
I started out with a 400D aswell, lovely little camera and a great way to learn. I have the kit lens without IS and it is a cracking lens, Ok I am in the prosess of upgrading it but thats just the snob in me lol.

Have fun and just keep taking pics, look at your settings and learn what they all do if you tweek them the wrong way. Most importantly though enjoy it.
Look forward to seeing some of your pics that you take.

spike
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Sorry Spike I cross posted! Thanks for that, yes I will enjoy it I have always wanted one!:)
 
The 400D was also my first DSLR camera. I bought it with exactly the same kit lens you have now.
The kit lens was more than enough for me at the time i bought the camera. The reason being that i did not have enough knowledge to need a more sophisticated lens. It was more than enough for the kind of pictures i was capable of taking at the time :)

Have a look at this site http://www.dinionline.com . All pictures on there were taken with the 400D :)
 
daizylindsay said:
Why is auto so bad? I will try as you say AV then manual, I am more interested in that really, but say for example I took it to a party or something and just wanted general snaps, would auto not be ok then?

I have to say the best pics Ive had on my compact have been when I've tinkered with the settings!
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Auto (in my experience at least) is unreliable... for example - you're taking a picture of a landscape scene - if you left the camera on 100% auto mode, it would decide its own focus point, its own metering, its own shutter speed and aperture settings.
Now - all or none of these may be what YOU want! Generally, the camera will get metering correct - or at least it will make a pretty good stab at it. Focus point however is completely random - it will generally pick the nearest object or the most prominent - which in the above landscape shot might be a tree much nearer you than the rest of the picture - thus completing adjusting the depth of field of the shot vs if you had focused on a tree 200m further away!

Hard to explain - but I find that generally on AV mode (where you tell the camera what aperture you want, and it decides the rest) it produces 90% of my photos. In some situations M mode is required where you literally have to tell the camera exactly what to do.
Regarding focusing - I would suggest using manual focus selection points as early as possible too - otherwise you might find your camera has picked a bottle of wine in the background instead of your mates face who is posing for a picture! It really can be completely random in the way it picks focus in my experience!! So telling it to focus on the red dot to the right hand side of the viewfinder - and then aligning that red dot with said mate's face is a much more reliable and accurate way of proceeding!
 
The other problem with AUTO is if you are using flash it will only try to illuminate the foreground. The background will almost always be too dark.
 
daizylindsay said:
Why is auto so bad? I will try as you say AV then manual, I am more interested in that really, but say for example I took it to a party or something and just wanted general snaps, would auto not be ok then?

I have to say the best pics Ive had on my compact have been when I've tinkered with the settings!
Click to expand...

I'd say auto is absolutely fine for parties. You cant waste your time tinkering with settings because you'll most likley miss that moment you were trying to capture.

use one of the manual settings whenever you intend on doing a serious photograph. If it's just point and shoot, capturing moments, I see no fault in using auto.
 
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